Stockholm University
Master in Medical Radiation Physics
Stockholm, Sweden
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
15 Jan 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
26 Aug 2024
TUITION FEES
SEK 70,000 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Application deadline applies for EU students for fall 2024 intake
** EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are not required to pay fees
Introduction
The master’s program in medical physics combines your interest in physics with applications in medicine. You will study how radiation is used within health care to diagnose and treat diseases, and you will undergo practical training at the hospital.
A medical physicist is an expert in diagnostic methods and radiation therapy. Modern healthcare is experiencing rapid technological advances, and there is a need for both a detailed knowledge of basic biological effects and advanced physical models. As a medical physicist, you can also work in radiation protection or in research and development. With a Master’s degree in Medical Radiation Physics, you are also well prepared for further research studies in Sweden or abroad.
Bridge program
If you have a strong background in physics, for example, a bachelor's degree, but lack courses to be eligible for the Master's program in Medical Radiation Physics, we offer a course package (or bridge program) that includes all courses to prepare you for the master's program.
Curriculum
As the Master’s program in medical radiation physics is equivalent to the last two years of professional education to become a medical physicist, all courses are mandatory. In the first year, you will study radiobiology and radiation protection, as well as cover the diagnostic specialties of medical physics including clinical practice in all diagnostic departments at the hospital. The second year is dedicated to radiation therapy (including five weeks of clinical practice) and to the degree project, which is fixed to 30 credits. The topic of the project does not have to have a clinical connection, and many of our graduates go on to work in the industry, at the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, and/or pursue a career in research.
Year 1
The Swedish credit system is compatible with the European standard ECTS. 30 ECTS is equivalent to one semester of full-time studies.
1st Semester
- Image and System Analysis FK7064 9 credits
- Basic Radiobiology FK7065 9 credits
- Radiation Protection and Environmental Radiology FK8030 7.5 credits
- Physics of Diagnostic Radiology FK8031 10.5 credits (start)
2nd Semester
- Physics of Diagnostic Radiology FK8031 10.5 credits (cont’d)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging FK8032 10 credits
- Physics of Nuclear Medicine FK8037 11 credits
- The Professional Role of the Medical Physicist FK8038 3 credits
Year 2
1st Semester
- Radiation Therapy Physics and Biology FK8035 22.5 credits
- Clinical Radiotherapy Physics and Biology FK8036 7.5 credits
2nd Semester
Degree Project FK9006 30 credits
Independent project
Examples of recent degree projects
1. Clinical optimization of a regularized reconstruction algorithm in PET. (2018)
2. Risk of second cancer from proton therapy of breast cancer – the impact of physiological and radiobiological uncertainties. (2018)
3. Ray Cast/Dose Superposition algorithm for proton grid therapy. (2017)
Career Opportunities
Today, half of all cancer patients in the world are treated with radiotherapy, and diagnostic methods based on both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation represent a major cornerstone of modern medicine. There is an increased need for medical physicists with knowledge of physics, medicine, and technology. To work as a medical physicist at a Swedish hospital, a license from the National Board of Health and Welfare is required. You can apply for the license after completing the program.
Working as a medical physicist is an exciting profession where you combine physics with biology and medicine. A medical physicist is an expert in radiation treatment and diagnostic methods with radiation. In addition to direct tasks within the daily work at the hospital with treatments and check-ups of patients, the medical physicist participates in research and development. An important task is to provide education about radiation and radiation safety to other professions, such as doctors and nurses. The more advanced technical equipment and the use of computers within healthcare imply an increased need for medical physicists.
Except for working at the hospital, medical physicists can also work at a medical technology company or with radiation safety issues at a nuclear plant, or with the Radiation Safety Authority. After examination, it is also possible to continue with a Ph.D. education.